Actuation group for a porthole, porthole provided with such a group and method for controlling the opening and closing of such a porthole

ABSTRACT

An automated actuation group ( 220 ) for a porthole ( 10 ) provided with a frame-shaped structure ( 11 ) and a window ( 14 ) constrained so that it can move to the frame ( 11 ), wherein the porthole ( 10 ) comprises actuator means ( 100 ) that force the displacement of an arm element ( 22, 22′ ) comprising guide means ( 24, 24′ ), such guide means ( 24, 24′ ) cooperating with the window ( 14 ) forcing it to move with respect to the frame ( 11 ) during the opening and the closing of the porthole ( 10 ).

The present invention refers to an improved group for opening and closing a porthole, to a porthole provided with such a group and to a method for controlling the opening and closing of such a porthole.

Most boats are currently provided with suitable windows, known as portholes, which, for obvious reasons like for example letting in fresh air and so on, have to possibility of being opened, and then closed, according to needs.

Such portholes are usually positioned on the hull of the relative boats and therefore are often located just above the surface of the water.

Due to this position these windows can only be opened when the boat is not moving and with a calm surface of the water on which the boat is floating.

Currently, such nautical portholes can be opened and closed exclusively manually.

This fact, i.e. that each window must necessarily be closed and/or opened manually gives substantial drawbacks.

Indeed, when it is necessary to move away quickly, for example to enter a port due to a sudden worsening of the weather, precious minutes are lost going from porthole to porthole to close them one at a time.

Moreover, such an operation is often carried out in conditions of extreme emergency and this state of confusion can lead the human user in charge of closing the windows to not close them properly or, in the worst case scenario, to completely forget to close some.

The consequence of this is partial flooding with the consequent more or less serious risk to the safety of the people present on the boat.

The purpose of the present invention is to make a device capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly functional manner.

Another purpose is to make an improved group for opening and closing a porthole, and a porthole provided with such a group in which the opening and closing thereof is automated.

Yet another purpose is to be able to have an improved group for opening and closing a porthole, and a porthole provided with such a group connected with sensors that allow their configuration to be controlled and checked even from a remote control station.

These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making an improved group for opening and closing a porthole as outlined in claim 1, and consequently by making a porthole provided with such a group as outlined in claim 15.

Further characteristics of the invention are outlined by the subsequent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of an improved group for opening and closing a porthole, and of a porthole provided with such a group, according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as a non-limiting example, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a porthole in closed position provided with a improved opening and closing group according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the porthole of FIG. 1 assembled in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the porthole of FIG. 1 in open position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of another porthole in closed position provided with another improved opening and closing group according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned enlarged detail of the porthole of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of another porthole in closed position provided with an improved opening and closing group according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view from below of the porthole of FIG. 6 in open position provided with an improved opening and closing group according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view from above of the porthole of FIG. 7 in the same open position;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the porthole of FIG. 6 in closed position; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic section view of the porthole of FIG. 9 along the line X-X.

With reference to the figures, improved control groups 220 for opening and closing a porthole 10 according to the invention, and some examples of porthole 10 provided with such groups are shown.

The control groups 220 for opening and closing the relative porthole 10 according to the present invention are automated, i.e. they make it no longer necessary for man to intervene directly on the portholes 10 during the steps of opening and closing them.

Such portholes 10 comprise, according to the current prior art, a frame structure 11 and a window 14 fixed to the latter so that it can move.

Commonly, the window 14 can be fixed to the frame 11 so that it can rotate about an axis A, and in this case guide means 24, 24′ cooperate with the window 14 making it rotate about the quoted axis A during the opening and the closing of the relative porthole 10, or else it can be fixed to the frame 11 so that it can slide along at least one guide, in this case the guide means 24, 24′ cooperate with the window 14 forcing it to slide along the quoted at least one guide during the opening and the closing of the relative porthole 10.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1-4 such an axis A coincides with a pin element arranged in a top portion of the frame 11.

In this way, the aforementioned window 14 is able to move between two positions: in a first closed position the window 14 is arranged vertically below the pin, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, whereas in a maximum open position the window 14 is rotated upwards about said pin as shown in FIG. 3.

A characterising aspect of the present invention is to make the passage between the two positions described above, the closed one and the maximum open one, that is totally automatic.

Of course, according to the present invention, between such two maximum open and closed positions, the window can stably stop in any intermediate position as desired.

Hereafter, with the term “open” we shall indeed refer to all of the positions of the window 14 other than the closed one.

Moreover, for safety aspects according to the present invention the possibility of acting manually on the portholes 10 is also kept so as to be able to close them in the case of failure or malfunction of the automated closing and opening group 220.

According to the invention the opening and closing group 220, applicable to the known portholes 10 described above, comprises actuator means 100.

These actuator means 100 are such as to force the displacement of an arm element 22, 22′ that comprises guide means 24, 24′ which in turn cooperate with the window 14.

Following a displacement of the arm element 22, 22′, the guide means 24, 24′ make the window 14 move with respect to the frame 11.

In particular, in the examples shown in the figures, the window 14 is made to rotate about the quoted axis A, in this way achieving the opening and closing of the relative porthole 10.

Therefore, it is the automatic movement of such an arm 22, 22′, given by the quoted actuator means 100, which can be of whatever type, to force the window 14 to move to open and close the porthole 10.

In the examples shown in the figures, the actuator means 100 are schematised by a worm screw coupling but they could, just like the geometry of the arm element 22, 22′ and the linkage of its mobile connection with the actuators 100, be of any type.

As an example, the actuator means 100 can be of the mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, oleodynamic type, etc.

In order to allow the movement of the window 14 with respect to the fixed frame 11, the arm element 22, 22′ is mobile, substantially vertically, automatically with respect to the same frame 11.

Such a mobile coupling of the arm 22, 22′ with respect to the relative frame 11 can also be of any type.

As outlined above the arm element 22, 22′ “moves” the window 14, to which this movement is given by a certain portion of the arm 22, 22′ and with particular couplings.

Indeed the arm element 22, 22′ comprises guide means 24, 24′, which in the examples shown in FIGS. 1-3 are a guide profile 24, formed in a top portion of the arm 22, with substantially longitudinal extension perpendicular to the plane of the frame 11.

Alternatively, FIG. 4 shows a slot formed in a top portion of the arm 22 the through axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the frame 11 that cooperate with the window 14.

According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-9 the aforementioned guide means 24, 24′ are a through guide profile 24′ formed in almost the entire arm element 22′ with substantially vertical extension parallel to the plane of the frame 11.

In order to ensure a good seal of the window in closed position the arm element 22, 22′ also comprises restriction means 23 that, in such a closed position, are suitable for keeping the window 14 firmly superposed on the frame 11.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1-3 these restriction means 23 are a shaped bottom portion of the arm element 22, 22′ itself, or else they can be, as shown in FIG. 4, a screw element that engages the window 14.

According to the present invention a shaped element 25 can also be foreseen fixedly connected to the frame 11 suitable for fastening the restriction means 23 in closed position.

Such restriction means 23 can be removed, thus releasing the window 14, both automatically and, alternatively or in the case of failure of the group 220, manually.

Indeed, in the examples shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-9 the arm element 22, 22′ automatically frees the window 14 lifting up in its movement given by the actuator. Alternatively, given that the arm 22, 22′ has an “idle” end of stroke portion, it can be lifted manually effortlessly.

In FIG. 4 the screw element that engages the window 14 proceeds to unscrew automatically thanks to the rotation given to it by the worm screw to which it is connected, or else it can be easily unscrewed by hand.

The arm 22, 22′ according to the invention is actuated automatically, but for safety reasons it is foreseen for both the movement thereof, and the disengagement of the window 14 from the relative guide means 24, to also be able to be easily carried out by hand.

For this purpose, the present invention can also comprise clutch-type devices 50, for manually closing said window 14 disengaging it from the relative kinematic actuation coupling with the actuators 100.

Purely as an example FIG. 5 shows a possible embodiment of such a clutch mechanism.

The group 220 according to the present invention also comprises at least one sensor for controlling the position of the arm element 22, 22′, also allowing the intermediate positions between closed and maximum open to be controlled.

Such sensors have the purpose of allowing the actuation of the movements that cause the porthole 10 to close and open to be controlled.

Advantageously, by foreseeing encoder-type sensors it is possible to have the correct kinematic “pursuit” of the moving portions thus avoiding torsion of the structure that could cause the window 14 to break, which is generally made from crystal.

In particular, since electronic or even other types of connections are also foreseen, to remote control devices 110, such as switches and/or displays, a user is able to control such a group 220 even remotely.

Of course, control devices 110′ are also foreseen that allow a user to check and to actuate such a group 220 also in the proximity of the relative porthole 10.

For safety reasons the group 220 preferably also comprises at least one sensor suitable for detecting the presence of water and/or the possible open state of the porthole 10 during navigation which, in the presence of one of said events, sends an execution signal to the actuator means 100 to automatically close the relative porthole 10.

By applying the group 220 to the porthole devices 10 currently known portholes that are totally automated are thus obtained.

Such portholes 10, applicable at an opening 13 of a wall 12 thus comprise a frame structure 11, a window 14, fixed so that it can move to said frame 11, and an automated opening and closing control group 220 as described previously.

According to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-5 the window 14 comprises a frame 17 equipped, on top, with a first projection 21.

Such a first projection 21 is the element of the window 14 that shall cooperate with the quoted guide means 24.

Indeed, in the case of the quoted closed position, the first projection 21 is located in a first end of said guide means 24 and, in the maximum open position of the relative porthole 10, it is located in the second end of the same guide means 24.

The intermediate steps of such displacement from one end to the other of the projection 21 in the guide means 24 can have any linkage but they must “guide” the projection 21, and therefore the window 14, to carry out movements that open and close the relative porthole 10.

In the examples of FIGS. 1-3 the arm 22 carries out a translation movement that, thanks to the particular configuration of the guide profile 24 forces the projection 21 to move in partial rotation around the axis A.

In the example of FIG. 4 the same movement of the projection 21 is achieved with a different linkage: the arm 22 in a first step carries out a pure translation, then, in a second step, it also carries out a training rotation about a horizontal axis B arranged away from the slot 23 that engages the projection 21.

According to a different embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-9, a first end of a connecting rod element 21′ is associated, in a top portion thereof, with the frame 17 of the window element 14.

Such a connecting rod element 21′, as shown schematically in the section shown in FIG. 10, is able to rotate both with respect to the aforementioned first end and to a second opposite end 210′ that cooperates, translating inside it, with the vertical guide 24′ of the arm 22′.

In this way in the closed position the second end 210′ is located in a first position inside the guide 24′ whereas in a maximum open position it is located in a second position, determined by the same movement of the element 22′, of the same guide 24′.

During the passage from such a first to the second position the connecting rod element 21′ carries out a rotation forcing the opening and/or closing movement of the relative window 14.

In particular, such a last embodiment just described is advantageous due to the low bulk required by the linkage of the connecting rod element 21′ with respect to the one described by the projecting element 21 allowing portholes 10 to be made with fairly low bulks.

In accordance with what has been described for the group 220, the frame 17 can also comprise a second projection 20 that, in closed position, collaborates with the aforementioned restriction means 23 of the arm 22, 22′ to thrust and hold the window 14 properly closed against the relative frame 11.

During the opening and closing steps caused by the movement of the arm element 22, 22′, in the manual or automatic ways quoted earlier, such a second projection 20 is released and free to move integrally to the window 14.

In order to protect the group 200, the porthole 10 can also comprise a box element 40 suitable for containing and hiding the actuator means 100 and the arm element 22, 22′.

Such a box element 40 is shown in FIG. 1 separate from the porthole 10 and in FIG. 2 assembled with it.

Therefore, the box element 40 is fixed, but removable according to requirements, with respect to the frame 11 and comprises at least one port 60 shaped so as to allow the first projection 21 or the connecting rod element 21′ to move in accordance with the linkage with which it is coupled.

In particular, the port 60 must allow both the movement of the first projection 21 integral to the arm element 22, 22′ and its relative movement in the guide means 24, 24′.

The clutch-type devices 50 for manually closing the porthole 10 are also contained in such a box element 40.

Finally, for safety reasons, the porthole 10 also comprises an armoured element 15 coupled with the window 14 and also mobile with respect to the frame 11.

In FIG. 1 such armour 15 can be seen raised from the window, and in FIG. 3 in closed position.

The method for checking and actuating such a porthole with automated opening and closing group 220 is very simple and comprises the following steps.

-   -   a) Checking a first signal emitted by the at least one sensor in         case of presence of water and/or of possible opening of said         porthole (10) during navigation.     -   b) checking a second signal emitted by the sensor for checking         the position of the arm element 22, 22′, in which case immediate         confirmation of the configuration of the window 14 is obtained.     -   c) Checking the operation of the group 220 and in the positive         case     -   d) Sending an actuation signal to the actuator means 100 to         proceed to open and/or close the porthole 10 through the         movement of the arm 22, 22′ to modify the configuration of the         window 14 confirmed in the previous step and     -   e) Re-checking the second signal emitted by the sensor for         checking the position of the arm element 22, 22′ to check         whether the desired opening or closing of the porthole has been         carried out successfully;     -   f) In the negative case of step c) proceeding to remove the         group 220.

Advantageously, the aforementioned steps of checking and sending signals to the porthole 10 can, according to the present invention, take place from a remote position, for example through a touch-screen display control, or else they can take place from a position near to the porthole 10.

Of course, all of the quoted steps can also take place manually and in particular it is possible to manually actuate the actuator means 100 to proceed to open and/or close the relative porthole 10.

It is absolutely easy to understand the operation of the device object of the finding.

Thanks to an improved group for opening and closing a porthole as described previously, the automated opening and closing thereof is ensured.

Indeed, thanks to actuators that put the arm element in motion which in turn makes the window rotate, the opening and closing of the porthole is achieved in a totally automatic way.

Moreover, for safety reasons such couplings can also be actuated and/or disengaged by hand in cases of failure or malfunction.

Finally, thanks to sensors that the configuration of the window 14 to be checked in real time, it is possible, thanks to electronic connections of the actuators, to check and actuate the porthole even from a remote control station.

It has thus been seen that an improved group for opening and closing a porthole, a porthole provided with such a group and a method for opening and closing such a porthole according to the present invention achieves the purposes outlined previously.

The improved group for opening and closing a porthole, the porthole provided with such a group and the method for opening and closing such a porthole of the present invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements. 

1. Automated actuation group (220) for a porthole (10) provided with a frame-shaped structure (11) and a window (14) constrained so that it can move to said frame (11), characterised in that it comprises actuator means (100) that force the displacement of an arm element (22, 22′) comprising guide means (24, 24′)/said guide means (24, 24′) cooperating with said window (14) forcing it to move with respect to said frame (11) during the opening and the closing of said porthole (10).
 2. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said window (14) is fixed to the frame (11) so that it can rotate about an axis (A) and in that said guide means (24, 24′) cooperate with said window (14) forcing it to rotate about said axis (A) during the opening and the closing of said porthole (10).
 3. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said window (14) is fixed to the frame (11) so that it can slide along at least one guide and in that said guide means (24, 24′) cooperate with said window (14) forcing it to slide along said at least one guide during the opening and the closing of said porthole (10).
 4. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said arm element (22, 22′) is able to move automatically with respect to said frame (11).
 5. Group (220) according to claim 4 characterised in that said guide means (24, 24′) are a guide profile (24) formed in said arm element (22) with substantially longitudinal extension perpendicular to the plane of said frame (11).
 6. Group (220) according to claim 4 characterised in that said guide means (24) are a slot formed in said arm element (22) the through axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of said frame (11), and in that said arm element (22) rotates about a traverse axis (B) located away from said slot.
 7. Group (220) according to claim 4 characterised in that said guide means (24, 24′) are a guide profile(24′) formed in said arm element (22′) with substantially vertical extension and parallel to the plane of said frame (11).
 8. Group (220) according to claim 5 characterised in that said arm element (22, 22′) also comprises restriction means (23) that, in a closed position, keep said window (14) fixedly superposed on the frame (11).
 9. Group (220) according to claim 8 characterised in that said restriction means (23) are a shaped portion of said arm element (22, 22′).
 10. Group (220) according to claim 8 characterised in that said restriction means (23) are screw elements.
 11. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said restriction means (23) can be removed and detached from said window (14) even manually.
 12. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that the movement of said arm element (22, 22′) can be actuated even manually.
 13. Group (220) according to claim 12 characterised in that it also comprises clutch-type devices (50) for manually closing said window (14).
 14. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that it also comprises at least one sensor for checking the position of said arm element (22, 22′).
 15. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said actuator means (100) are electronically connected to remote devices (110) for their remote control.
 16. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that said actuator means (100) are electronically connected to devices (HO′) for their actuation located near to said group (220).
 17. Group (220) according to claim 1 characterised in that it also comprises at least one sensor connected to said actuator means (100) for their automatic actuation closed.
 18. Porthole (10) applicable at an opening (13) of a wall (12) comprising a frame structure (11) and a window (14), said window (14) being fixed so that it can move with respect to said frame (11), characterised in that it comprises at least one automated actuation group (220) according to claim
 1. 19. Porthole (10) according to claim 18 characterised in that said window element (14) comprises a frame (17) equipped with a first projection (21) suitable for cooperating with said guide (24), wherein in said closed position, said first projection (21) is located in a first end of said guide means (24), and in a maximum open position it is located in a second end of said guide means (24).
 20. Porthole (10) according to claim 18 characterised in that said window element (14) comprises a frame (17) associated with a first end of a connecting rod element (21′) said connecting rod element (21′) being able to rotate with respect to said first end and to a second opposite end (210′) cooperating with said guide (24′), wherein in said closed position said second end (210′) is located in a first position of said guide means (24′), and in a maximum open position it is located in a second position of said guide means (24′) determined by the same movement of said element (22′).
 21. Porthole (10) according to claim 19 characterised in that said frame (17) is equipped with a second projection (20) that in closed position is pressure-fixed by said restriction means (23) against said frame (11) and in said opening and closing steps caused by the movement of said arm element (22, 22′) it is released by said restriction means (23).
 22. Porthole (10) according to claim 19 characterised in that it also comprises a box element (40) suitable for containing and hiding said actuator means (100) and said arm element (22), and wherein said box element (40) is fixed with respect to said frame (11) and comprises a port (60) shaped so as to allow said first projection (21) to both move as a unit with said arm element (22) and to allow its relative movement in said guide means (24).
 23. Porthole (10) according to claim 20 characterised in that it also comprises a box element(40) suitable for containing and hiding said actuator means (100) and said arm element (22′), and wherein said box element (40) is fixed with respect to said frame (11) and comprises a port (60) shaped so as to allow said connecting rod element (21′) to both move as a unit with said arm element (22′) and to allow its relative movement in said guide means (24′).
 24. Porthole (10) according to claim 22 characterised in that said box element (40) is removable and also contains and hides said clutch-type devices (50) for manually closing said porthole (10).
 25. Porthole (10) according to claim 18 characterised in that it also comprises an armoured element (15) coupled with said window (14) and able to move with respect to said frame (11).
 26. Porthole (10) according to claims 18-25 characterised in that said window (14) can be closed manually.
 27. Method for the automated opening and/or closing of a porthole (10) according to claim 18 comprising the following steps: a) checking a first signal emitted by said at least one sensor in case of presence of water and/or of possible opening of said porthole (10) during navigation; b) checking a second signal emitted by said sensor for checking the position of said arm element (22, 22′); c) sending an actuation signal to said actuator means (100) to proceed to open and/or close said porthole (10) through the movement of said arm (22, 22′); d) re-checking said second signal emitted by said sensor for checking the position of said arm element (22, 22′);
 28. Method according to claim 27 characterised in that also the subsequent step of manually actuating said actuator means (100) to proceed to open and/or close said porthole (10) is comprised.
 29. Method according to claim 27 characterised in that said steps of checking and sending signals to said porthole (10) take place from a remote position.
 30. Method according to claim 27 characterised in that said steps of checking and sending signals to said porthole (10) take place from a position near to said porthole (10). 